LAMENTATION OVER THE DEAD CHRIST

This painting, which depicts the dead Christ held by Mary Magdalene, St. John and Joseph of Arimathea, was originally part of the extraordinary polyptych in the Church of Sant’Agostino in Perugia. Pietro Vannucci was commissioned to do the work in 1502. It remained unfinished at the time of his death in 1523. This painting, also called the Pietà, filled the upper register of the back of the polyptych, facing the choir. The structure stood on the main altar until about 1650, when it was dismantled, and the painted panels were placed on the walls of the choir. Several pieces of the polyptych were confiscated by Jacques-Pierre Tinet in 1797, during the first requisition under Napoleon. The Pietà, along with other appropriated items, was taken to France and, in 1815, was fortunately recovered by Antonio Canova. Once returned to Perugia, it was acquired by the monks of San Pietro. The work is among those dating from the artist’s mature years, when his painting technique became swifter, and color was applied in countless hatch-like strokes, lending vibrancy to the painted surface.